The remediation of contaminated sediments in industrialized harbors and waterways is a growing environmental concern in North America. More than 100 marine ports and 42 inland harbors in the Great Lakes basins are currently listed by U.S. and Canadian regulatory agencies as having severe habitat and water-quality impairments due to bottom-sediment toxicity. Current approaches to remediation include sediment dredging and removal, capping with clean sediment, and in-situ treatment with oxidants.

Regardless of the remediation approach employed, a major requirement for such projects is detailed mapping of contaminated sediment distribution, thickness, and pollutant concentrations. Conventional practice is to estimate sediment properties...